How To Seek And Save The Lost

How to Seek and Save the Lost (Luke 15:1-32)

Too many Christians fail to remember that it was said of Jesus, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save those who are lost." (Luke 19:10) If we want to be like Jesus then we have to share the same purpose, passion and plan of the one who went all the way to Calvary for us.

Billy Sunday (Famous Evangelist): "You can’t hatch chicks under a dead hen."

Elmer Towns: "It takes 3. 3 exposures to the gospel before people become aware of their need for forgiveness."

"It takes, on average, 400 presentations of the gospel before the typical Muslim comes to faith in Jesus Christ."

Illustration: Don’t make people jump through your hoops before you share the message of salvation with them:

I’ll save your life -- if you support Man U

2 hours, 34 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - A Manchester United fan donated cells so his brother could have a life-saving transplant -- on condition his sibling switched his support from arch rivals Manchester City.

Retired management consultant Martin Warburton, 50, asked his brother Paul, 59, to sign a light-hearted contract pledging to join the United fan club.

"We made a great joke of the contract, but he still agreed to sign," Martin Warburton told Friday’s Daily Telegraph newspaper. "I just hope now that it will save his life."

Paul, who had the transplant to fight lymphatic leukaemia, was philosophical over the switch between the fiercely competitive teams.

"I was really lucky that Martin’s cells matched," said Paul. "But he had to be a Reds’ supporter, didn’t he?"

Here are some guidelines for how to seek and save the lost as Jesus taught in the three parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

1. Note the DANGER of the lost sheep. Even though it may seem a bit foolish of the shepherd to leave the 99 sheep to search for just one, the shepherd knows that the one who is lost in terrible danger. Only when we realize that people live forever will we be willing to win the lsot at any cost.

Illustrative Song:

Throw out the life line across the dark wave;

There is a brother whom someone should save;

Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare

To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Refrain

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

Someone is drifting away;

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

Someone is sinking today.

Throw out the life line with hand quick and strong:

Why do you tarry, why linger so long?

See! he is sinking; oh, hasten today

And out with the life boat! away, then away!

Refrain

Throw out the life line to danger fraught men,

Sinking in anguish where you’ve never been;

Winds of temptation and billows of woe

Will soon hurl them out where the dark waters flow.

Refrain

Soon will the season of rescue be o’er,

Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore;

Haste, then, my brother, no time for delay,

But throw out the life line and save them today.

Refrain

This is the life line, oh, tempest tossed men;

Baffled by waves of temptation and sin;

Wild winds of passion, your strength cannot brave,

But Jesus is mighty, and Jesus can save.

2. Note the VALUE of the lost sheep. Since the shepherd knew that the lost sheep was of great value he willing to search diligently. We tend to be diligent to only the tasks that we ascribe great value, worth and desirability. God’s love for individuals is so great that he seeks out each one and rejoices when one is found.

3. Note the PERSISTENCE of the searcher. The shepherd searches, seeks and surveys many places until he eventually locates the lost sheep. There are approximately 3600 unreached people groups in the world that are yet to have clear access to the gospel of Christ. Only through a Spirit led persistence will these people be given an opportunity to hear a convincing presentation of the gospel. We need greater tenacity if we are to finish the job of proclaiming the gospel to all the people groups of the world.

4. Note the LOVE. The shepherd sought after the lost sheep out of love. Jesus said, "He who has my commands and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And I will love him and will disclose myself to him." (John 14:21) Love is not always a warm feeling but a dogged determination to obey God in sharing the gospel with the lost even if it means going to the ends of the earth to do it.

5. Note the PURSUIT. The shepherd pursued the lost sheep and the woman used every light to look in every corner to find the lost coin. The woman swept every nook and cranny of her house until she finally locates the lost coin because she knows there is a reward for her pursuit. Many people give up pursuing the lost because they fail to realize how much it pleases the Lord when the lost are found. "He who wins souls is wise." Let us ask God to give more, pray more and do more as we puruse that which pleases the Lord in seeking first the expansion of His kingdom and righteousness in greater quantity and quality.